Starting up shop

[Wombat]

Ok, I have just started my own home comp repair business. I visit the majority of computer fairs in my area and would love to know where they get all ther stuff for that is so cheap. Is there a place that will only sell to businesses for a cheaper price, is there a way to get OS's cheaper too. If you don't want to post your sources please PM me. Im in the Los Angeles/ Valley area.

Thanks
Paul

[Tekk]

I work for a computer consulting business in La Cañada (near Pasadena) and I know we get our OS's and parts from a distributor, much like any online store. We have a reselling lisence and also we are a lisenced Microsoft OEM distributor (something with microsofts OEM site..I'll have to look into it.) THe point anyway is that we are able to get things at cheaper prices than other online "stores" provide. I dont know what they compare to computer fair shows tho. I think the reseller lisence and all that really helps lower the prices. And of course, the more you buy things in bulk the cheaper they become. Of course you'll have lots of items in stock and if you cant deliver the business then those items will just be dust collectors

Hope that helps :-D Its late and I might not be making any sense so dont mind me

[jman01pa]

Good luck!

Keep in mind that the cheapest priced places are not always the best. Good support from your Vendor for warrranty and returns are a must.

If you buy online be care of shipping prices...

J

Yep and be sure you have limits and stick to them.
You fix something and people will think that you give a lifetime tech support for it and anything else that happens down the road..
I rebuilt a box for someone and they were calling me whinning that they couldn't connect to the internet and were sure I did something..
No more! sheesh!

[Wombat]

Thanks for the responces.

Even when I buy from shows, I only buy known name brands and I do- do my research, I use Maxtor, creative(audio), Asus, USR and of course AMD. The OS is one of the main thing cause I MUST be Legal, it's amazing how many people just say "don't you have a copy"..

Customer support is one of the reasons I wanted to start on my own and yes I have already had the winer/can't be satisfied customer.

Thanks All


Paul

P.s I am looking into the reseller # But I still need the names of some of the distributors. Am I doing the wrong kind of search?

[Tekk]

I know PC Connection is one that we use. I've never dealt with em but my boss loves their customer service and has been with them for years. And yes its hard to stay afloat in the computer buidling industry with the amazing deals that Dell and other such companies give out but seriously, if you sell your service and kiss their asses they will come to you. Thats what our motto is at work, we know we cant compete in price but we can definitely compete in service and reliability.

And thats cool that you use AMD. I wish my boss did He seems to think that everything is better Intel (even Motherboard!). I support your choice of HDD too. We use the IBM HDDs and now after reading all the problems some ppl have had it makes me wonder. I have a maxtor 20GB at home that works excellently. The 2nd HDD I have is an IBM from work (old shop one) that gives me problems in Win2k. OH well.

And hey! dont steal any of our business!!!

[Tekk]

Oh and also.....I suggest you make a little contract type paper that tells people how much they will be charged and such and MAKE THEM SIGN IT if they bring in their computer for you to fix. Lets them agree to the possible charges so they cant come back and complain saying you never told them it would be this much.

a SYOA type thing (save your own a**)

[AzKidd69]

http://www.microsoft.com/oem

[Pshawn5]

hehe cool, now if my comp goes bad, i could drive to hollywood for the techimo discount right?

[Wombat]

Tekk, believe me, on that one I'm way ahead of you,plus I also have a disclaimer..


PSshawn5, it's one hell of a drive, + if you use this site you should be able to do your own work perfectly, but I'm always willing to chat and give advice...

Paul